Chapter 181. Fate (1)

How long had we been dealing with the Taoist bastards fleeing with their colleagues?

After roughly finishing the cleanup, we gathered back at the Aenoe Sect’s scripture hall.

The Tang guy, who had been examining the scattered corpses, approached and asked.

“But why did we come back? Wouldn’t the beasts eat the corpses anyway?”

“Beasts that have tasted human flesh might roam outside the mountain. It’s better to just cremate them now.”

The Tang guy nodded as if he accepted the explanation.

“Then we should gather the corpses in one place first.”

Starting from the scripture hall, we went around collecting the bodies of those we had killed.

Occasionally, we had to deal with beasts or venomous snakes that came drawn by the scent of blood.

In the meantime, Nam Geon lit a fire in the pit he had dug and threw the bodies in one by one to burn them.

“Keep burning them.”

Junior Sister Baek Hyang asked.

“Is there something else to do, Senior Brother?”

“The Aenoe Sect bastards didn’t engage in human sacrifice just because murder was their hobby.”

Bastards whose hobby was murder usually enjoyed killing with their own hands.

Such guys were invariably those who enjoyed the screams of their victims.

However, these guys chose the peculiar method of human sacrifice.

The reason was obvious.

“Aside from Chuxiong, they probably extorted wealth from various places under the pretext of rituals.”

“Ah……. Then I will look for it.”

“It is fine. There is something else I need to check, so I will go myself.”

Leaving the rest to them, I rummaged through the Aenoe Sect.

As a result, I was able to find a considerable amount of gold, silver, and treasures.

These were riches that should be returned to the civilians who were deceived or forcibly robbed by the Aenoe Sect bastards.

In addition, there were dozens of books.

Some were a type of ledger.

Others were like journals written by the Sect Leader.

And the remaining books were all martial arts manuals.

I took the ledgers because they were needed to distribute the wealth.

I skimmed through the Sect Leader’s journal once and threw it away.

Into the pit where the bodies were burning.

It was full of insane content that only trash would think of, so it didn’t seem worth reading.

The problem was the manuals.

I skimmed through the titles and the first pages for a while.

A familiar name caught my eye.

White Cloud Life Severing Sword.

The sword art used by the Aenoe Sect Leader and Jade Cloud Master.

Unlike the manuals I checked before, I read this one carefully from the first page.

“Hmm.”

As expected, this sword art emphasized stealth and speed.

It was also a fairly profound advanced sword art with a Taoist color.

The character for ‘Life’ contained various meanings.

And the word ‘Life’ meant in this book was closer to a command or regulation.

It discussed the joy of cultivating the Way while secluded in the clouds, away from the rules of the secular world.

That was why it was the White Cloud Life Severing Sword.

Well, the pseudo-Taoist bastards of the Aenoe Sect seemed to have interpreted it as hiding in the clouds and cutting off people’s lives.

After reading the manual thoroughly once, I called Junior Sister Choyeon.

“Learn this.”

Junior Sister Choyeon stared blankly at the manual in my hand.

I added a comment for the puzzled Junior Sister.

“Reading it, it seems to align somewhat with the martial arts you have previously learned. Also, since it is a more advanced martial art than the sword art you learned, it will be helpful in many ways.”

In fact, with my insight, it was impossible to understand a ‘fairly advanced martial art’ just by reading it once.

But this martial art was a bit different.

It was only my first time reading it. It was a sword art I had reviewed in my head hundreds of times, and I had even fought a guy who used this martial art just before.

It meant that although I had never read it, I already understood it to some extent.

Thanks to that, I could tell. That this martial art suited Junior Sister Choyeon quite well.

In addition, I gave Junior Sister Choyeon a footwork manual that seemed to be a pair with the White Cloud Life Severing Sword.

Watching the process, Junior Sister Baek Hyang showed interest.

“Can I read it too, Senior Brother?”

“Do so.”

If it was about reading and understanding manuals, Junior Sister would be better than me. There was no reason to stop her.

The Tang guy also approached as if interested and rummaged through the manuals.

“Hmm. Was there anything about hidden weapons, herbology, alchemy, or poison arts?”

His tastes were limited, as expected.

On the other hand, Nam Geon didn’t even come close.

“I, I feel like my h-head is going to explode just learning what I’m learning now.”

“There is no need to force yourself to learn new things.”

After rummaging through the manuals, Junior Sister Baek Hyang picked up a few additional ones.

The Tang guy also took one book.

“Did you find something useful?”

“The overall level drops significantly, but it contains information about medicinal herbs, poisonous insects, and snakes found only in this region. I thought I might just look into that.”

After taking everything we needed, I burned all the remaining books.

Remnants of the Aenoe Sect might still remain.

They might return here and take the remaining manuals.

If that happened, innocent civilians might suffer again in the future.

By the time we finished organizing, the sky was dyed with the glow of sunset.

“There is no need to spend the night here, so let’s go down before the sun sets.”

***

We left Mount Aenoe when the sun had completely set. And after moving a little further, we camped out for the night.

We started moving early the next morning and arrived back in Chuxiong in the afternoon of the second day.

It took a little longer to return because our luggage had increased quite a bit.

Fortunately, Taoist Cheongheo was still in Chuxiong.

He was going around the village helping those who had fallen into despair.

“W-what are all those?”

I briefly explained the situation to Taoist Cheongheo’s question.

“As expected, everyone in the Aenoe Sect, from the Sect Leader to the lowest disciples, was in on it. These are the riches they stole from various places.”

“Hah. How can those who call themselves Taoists who have cut ties with the secular world be so greedy?”

Taoist Cheongheo chanted a Taoist name with a face of disbelief.

“Oh, Grand Supreme Elderly Lord.”

I spoke to Taoist Cheongheo, who had a complicated expression.

“Therefore, I intend to entrust these to Taoist Cheongheo and the people of the Diancang Sect.”

“Y-you want to entrust this much wealth to us? W-what does that mean?”

“Here is the ledger. Please return the riches to their original owners based on this ledger.”

“I understand what you mean, but…… It is truly a heavy trust.”

It seemed to mean how could I trust them so easily when we had just met.

It wasn’t that I trusted them blindly.

I had no choice but to stop by here again on my way back from visiting Potala Palace anyway.

Whether they returned the riches or followed in the footsteps of the Aenoe Sect.

I could just check then.

But there was no need to reveal these inner thoughts.

“Didn’t you say so, Taoist Cheongheo? What need does a Taoist who has cut ties with the secular world have for such riches?”

“Ahem. Well, I did say that, but.”

“And before entrusting them, there is one thing I want to ask.”

“Please ask freely.”

“May I know how many people belong to the Diancang Sect?”

Taoist Cheongheo answered immediately as if there was no need to think about the number.

“Twenty-three.”

Should I say it was a number befitting those who were quietly cultivating the Way among themselves in the mountains?

Being simple without greed was good, but the number felt insufficient.

“The number seems insufficient for just the people of the Diancang Sect to spread teachings throughout Yunnan.”

“That was actually my biggest worry as well.”

“Then how about this? Among my acquaintances, there is someone named Teacher Sama.”

I told Taoist Cheongheo about Teacher Sama’s will and the Twin Heroes Alliance.

“They believe that they can lead people to the right path through teaching. Isn’t this case the same? Because the civilians were ignorant, they were deceived by the absurd lies of the Aenoe Sect bastards.”

“This Taoist also agrees that teaching is necessary. However, saying that now sounds like you are telling us to join hands with that Twin Heroes Alliance to save the civilians.”

Taoist Cheongheo showed a troubled look.

The reason could be easily inferred.

“I know that the Taoist teachings followed by Diancang and the Confucian teachings advocated by Teacher Sama are different. But isn’t the biggest goal right now not to turn civilians into Taoists or scholars?”

This was also the reason why I didn’t mention the Twin Heroes Alliance and Teacher Sama immediately at our first meeting.

If I had discussed cooperation from the beginning, it is highly likely that he would have expressed even more reluctance.

But wouldn’t his thoughts change a little after seeing the reality of the civilians here directly?

“Helping innocent civilians not to be deceived or exploited by villains. I believe that at least in this intent, Diancang and the Twin Heroes Alliance are in agreement.”

Taoist Cheongheo fell into deep thought.

After waiting for a while instead of forcing him. As if he had organized his thoughts, Taoist Cheongheo sighed and opened his mouth.

“Haa. I will speak to the Sect Leader first and then visit that person named Teacher Sama. If we are to share the will, shouldn’t we at least have a conversation?”

Although it wasn’t confirmed yet, a faint smile spread on my lips.

“You have thought very well.”

No matter how much I thought about it, Teacher Sama was a man who would step up for this matter.

***

After returning some of the riches collected from the Aenoe Sect to the people of Chuxiong, we headed east with Taoist Cheongheo.

A few days later, we arrived near Mount Diancang.

Soon, a few Taoists came down from Mount Diancang, and Taoist Cheongheo briefly explained the situation to them.

Those Taoists took the riches we brought, and we exchanged farewells with Taoist Cheongheo.

“Hahaha. I hope to meet you again someday.”

Additionally, I handed over a letter of introduction needed when visiting the Seomoon Clan to Taoist Cheongheo.

After finishing our business in Yunnan, we turned northwest.

A few days of moving while training martial arts.

We finally passed Yunnan and were able to enter Tibet.

A scenery different from Yunnan unfolded.

The path crossing from Yunnan to Tibet was a rugged high mountain area.

However, thanks to that, it was much easier to enter the foreign country also called Tubo.

Because there were almost no soldiers guarding such a place.

“Since the road is rugged, it is perfect for training movement arts and footwork.”

Another few days of moving along the rugged mountain path with this mindset. Once we left the mountain path, a barren grassland unfolded.

Even deserts where not a single blade of grass grew unfolded in some places.

Fortunately, the days of moving through the barren land were not long.

Before long, we arrived near our destination.

A region named Lhasa. The busiest city in this vicinity located near the Potala Palace.

Although called a city, it was a humble place in many ways compared to the cities of the Central Plains.

In the first place, Tibet was a barren land, and this place wasn’t exactly a good place for people to live either.

“B-Brother. I-it is uncomfortable to b-breathe here too.”

As Nam Geon whined, it was a place where even breathing was uncomfortable for those visiting for the first time.

Because it was a city located on quite high ground.

“Let’s stay here for a day first and then go find the Potala Palace.”

Still, since it was a city, there would be places like inns.

While wandering around Lhasa to find a place to stay for the day, I witnessed a strange sight.

“Hah. Should I call this lucky?”

The Tang guy muttered as if it was fascinating.

“We won’t have to go find the Potala Palace.”

Men with shaved heads dressed in vermilion robes. Those who looked like monks to anyone were wandering around Lhasa.

They were helping the old and sick.

Among them, one young monk stood out in particular.

With a gentle tone and a benevolent smile, that monk was leading other monks despite his clearly young appearance.

“Junior Brother. Assist this person and send him home.”

“Junior Uncle. It seems we will need to bring a little more water tomorrow.”

“Do not worry. Senior Brother. I have brought extra of that herb.”

He wasn’t just commanding with words.

He was taking the initiative with his own body.

Even when a patient vomited blood-mixed cough on his face while being supported, he still wore a benevolent smile.

As if the young monk’s compassionate smile was spreading, everyone in the vicinity was smiling faintly and helping each other.

It was truly a merciful scene.

To think that such people would be massacred by the Blood Disaster in the future.

I had to prevent that somehow.

Just as I thought that. The gaze of the young monk, who was examining a patient’s condition, turned this way.

The young monk stood up and approached us.

After getting somewhat close, he expressed courtesy with a clasped hand bow.

“Amitabha. You seem to be people I am seeing for the first time. Are you perhaps benefactors who have come to find our Potala Palace?”

“It is true that we came to find the Potala Palace, but how did you know that?”

“The majority of outsiders who come here are those who come to find our Palace.”

Answering gently as expected, the monk asked again.

“Since we must return to the Palace before the sun sets, we will also be returning soon. You will need a place to sleep anyway, so would you like to go to the Palace together?”

There was no problem heading straight to the Potala Palace, so I willingly nodded.

“Thank you for inviting us. Ah, come to think of it, introductions are late. My surname is Jin and my name is Yuseong.”

“Hahaha. Since I took refuge in Buddhism from a young age, I do not have a secular name. Please call me Hyeonam.”

“…….”

It was a truly familiar name.

Because the name of the Blood Disaster bastard was Hyeonam.

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